VIDEO: When drinking water comes from muddy holes in the ground

It’s a reality faced by children and entire communities in places like rural Zambia. The absence of clean, safe water can undermine all other efforts to fight poverty in a region. We remember the pain that many children face because they don’t have clean water — and how we can help change their situation.

Clean water is a paradox. Without it, life cannot be sustained — yet it’s a resource so easy to take for granted. The reality, however, is clear: Nearly 1 billion people across the world don’t have access to it.

It can make or break a community’s efforts to escape poverty. Children who are forced to travel long distances to gather water don’t have time to attend school; regardless of that, when they consume tainted water, they become too sick to attend class.

Meanwhile, economic development is stifled when community members suffer from waterborne illness and don’t have the energy to work. A vicious cycle of poverty can result.

World Vision seeks to raise awareness of children, families, and communities across the globe who suffer from a lack of access to clean water. Through a variety of interventions, we can work to bring this foundational resource to regions where the need is greatest.

Learn more

Three ways you can help

Please pray for children, families, and communities who struggle because they have no access to clean, safe water. Pray that Christians worldwide would be inspired to act by Christ’s words: “And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward.” —Matthew 10:42 (NIV)